Portable audio apparatus having a power savings device

Claim 2

A portable audio apparatus including mechanical linkages and apparatus for at least playing a recorded medium having audible sound signals stored thereon comprising: motor means for moving said recording medium in at least forward fast forward and rearward modes; sound reproducing means for audibly reproducing the sound signals stored on said recording medium; detecting means operable for determining and for producing an output signal when a gap of at least a predetermined duration in the sound signals reproduced by said sound reproducing means is detected, such a gap being represented by a period when the sound signals are below a predetermined level or absent, said detecting means not being responsive to a control signal, if any, on said recording medium; and control means for controlling the supply of power to said motor means in response to said output signal of said detecting means without acting upon any of the mechanical linkages and apparatus.

Claim 3

The portable audio apparatus of claim 1, further including start switching means for initiating operation of said detecting means based on said motor means moving said recording medium in either fast forward or rearward modes.

Claim 4

The portable audio apparatus of claim 1, further including a housing for supporting said sound reproducing means within said housing, speaker means for producing an audio signal based on said output signal and disposed at a first position within said housing, sound input means for receiving sound waves, connected to said housing at a second position and distanced from said speaker means to prevent howling by the latter, and gripping means attached to said housing for holding said portable audio apparatus with at least one hand of a user.

Claim 5

The portable audio apparatus of claim 2, further including a housing for supporting said sound reproducing means within said housing, speaker means for producing an audio signal based on said output signal and disposed at a first position within said housing, sound input means for receiving sound waves, connected to said housing at a second position and distanced from said speaker means to prevent howling by the latter, and gripping means attached to said housing for holding said portable audio apparatus with at least one hand of a user.

Claim 6

The portable audio apparatus of claim 2, further including generating means responsive to said output signal for producing an information signal, said speaker means operable for producing a message based on said information signal.

Claim 7

The portable audio apparatus of claim 4, further including generating means responsive to said output signal for producing an information signal, said speaker means operable for producing a message based on said information signal.

Claim 8

The portable audio apparatus of claim 2, wherein said start switching means includes an AND circuit having fast forward switch means for opening and closing based on said motor means moving said recording medium in said fast forward mode and rearward switch means for opening and closing based on said motor means moving said recording medium in said rearward mode.

Claim 9

The portable audio apparatus of claim 5, wherein said start switching means includes an AND circuit having fast forward switch means for opening and closing based on said motor means moving said recording medium in said fast forward mode and rearward switch means for opening and closing based on said motor means moving said recording medium in said rearward mode.

Claim 10

The portable audio apparatus of claim 6, wherein said start switching means includes an AND circuit having fast forward switch means for opening and closing based on said motor means moving said recording medium in said fast forward mode and rearward switch means for opening and closing based on said motor means moving said recording medium in said rearward mode.

Claim 11

The portable audio apparatus of claim 2, wherein said fast forward switch means and said rearward switch means are leaf switches.

Claim 12

The portable audio apparatus of claim 8, wherein said fast forward switch means and said rearward switch means are leaf switches.

Claim 13

The portable audio apparatus of claim 10, further including a push button switch associated with said fast forward switch means and a push button switch associated with said rearward switch means.

Claim 14

The portable audio apparatus of claim 11, further including a push button switch associated with said fast forward switch means and a push button switch associated with said rearward switch means.

Claim 15

The portable audio apparatus of claim 12, wherein each push button switch includes projection means for engaging and opening the corresponding leaf switch.

Claim 16

The portable audio apparatus of claim 13, wherein each push button switch includes projection means for engaging and opening the corresponding leaf switch.

Claim 17

The portable audio apparatus of claim 3, wherein said start switching means includes fast forward switching means operable for being maintained in locked and unlocked positions and for initiating said motor means to move said recording medium in the fast forward mode when in its locked position and rearward switching means operable for being maintained in locked and unlocked positions and for initiating said motor means to move said recording medium in the rearward mode when in its locked position.

Claim 18

The portable audio apparatus of claim 5, wherein said start switching means includes fast forward switching means operable for being maintained in locked and unlocked positions and for initiating said motor means to move said recording medium in the fast forward mode when in its locked position and rearward switching means operable for being maintained in locked and unlocked positions and for initiating said motor means to move said recording medium in the rearward mode when in its locked position.

Claim 19

The portable audio apparatus of claim 16, wherein said start switching means further includes additional switching means and mechanical means, said mechanical means coupled to said fast forward switching means, said rearward switching means and said additional switching means and responsive to said additional switching means for releasing said fast forward switching means and said rearward switching means from said locked positions to said unlocked positions and for interrupting operation of said detecting means.

Claim 20

The portable audio apparatus of claim 17, wherein said start switching means further includes additional switching means and mechanical means, said mechanical means coupled to said fast forward switching means, said rearward switching means and said additional switching means and responsive to said additional switching means for releasing said fast forward switching means and said rearward switching means from said locked positions to said unlocked positions and for interrupting operation of said detecting means.

Claim 21

The portable audio apparatus of claim 1, wherein said recording medium is a magnetic tape.

Claim 22

The portable audio apparatus of claim 3, wherein said sound input means includes a microphone.

Claim 23

The portable audio apparatus of claim 6, wherein said sound input means includes a microphone.

Claim 24

A portable audio apparatus for at least playing a recording medium having at least words and/or music stored thereon comprising: a motor for moving said recording medium in at least forward, fast forward and rearward modes; an input device for receiving vocal sound; a sound multiplex reproducing device having a vocal sound reproducing circuit for reproducing vocal sound from said audio input device and a recording medium reproducing circuit for reproducing said at least words and/or music on said recording medium and producing an output signal representing the combination of said reproduced vocal sound and at least words and/or music; a gap detection device for detecting a gap of at least a predetermined duration in said output signal, such a gap being represented by a period when the output signal is below a predetermined level or absent, and producing a trigger signal based on said detection, said gap detection device not being responsive to a control signal, if any, on said recording medium; and control means for halting the movement of said recording medium by said motor means in response to said trigger signal from said gap detection device.

Claim 25

A portable audio apparatus for at least playing a recording medium having at least words and/or music stored thereon comprising: a motor for moving said recording medium in at least forward, fast forward and rearward modes; an input device for receiving vocal sound; a sound multiplex reproducing device having a vocal sound reproducing circuit for reproducing vocal sound from said audio input device and a recording medium reproducing circuit for reproducing said at least words and/or music on said recording medium and producing an output signal representing the combination of said reproduced vocal sound and at least words and/or music; a gap detection device for detecting a gap of at least a predetermined duration in said output signal, such a gap being represented by a period when the output signal is below a predetermined level or absent, and producing a trigger signal based on said detection, said gap detection device not being responsive to a control signal, if any, on said recording medium; and control means for halting the movement of said recording medium by said motor means in response to said trigger signal from said gap detection device.

Claim 26

The portable audio apparatus of claim 23, further including a housing for supporting said sound multiplex reproducing device within said housing, a speaker for producing an audio signal based on said output signal and disposed at a first position within said housing, said audio input device being a microphone for receiving vocal sounds from a user connected to said housing at a second position and distanced from said speaker to prevent howling by the latter and a grip attached to said housing disposed between said speaker and said microphone for holding said portable audio apparatus with at least one hand of said user.

Claim 27

The portable audio apparatus of claim 24, further including a start switching device having fast forward switch means operable for being maintained in locked and unlocked positions and for initiating said motor means to move said recording medium in the fast forward mode when in its locked position and rearward feed means operable for being maintained in locked and unlocked positions and for initiating said motor means to move said recording medium in the rearward mode when in its locked position and including latch means for holding said start switch device in said locked position even after detection of said gap or reaching the end of the tape and manually operable switch means mechanically coupled to said latch means for permitting the manual release of said start switching device from said locked position to said unlocked position.

Claim 28

The portable audio apparatus of claim 25, wherein said start switching device further includes an AND circuit with first leaf switch means and second leaf switch means for respectively controlling operation of said gap detection device based on said recording medium moving in the fast forward and rearward modes.